Though currently in a class of one, the T-Mobile 4G Mobile Hotspot ZTE MF61 ($79.99 with a two-year contract) is a top performer nonethelessalbeit with a few quirks. It's tiny and sleek, and a fast way to connect up to five devices to T-Mobile's network. So for that reason, and not just by default, it's our Editors' Choice for hotspots on T-Mobile.

Physical Features, Setup and Administration
At 3.9 by 2.1 by 0.5 inches (HWD) and 2.6 ounces, the MF61 is a touch smaller than similar hotspots on other carriers. I really like the designshiny black plastic on the front, rubberized black plastic on the back, and a neon green strip of matte plastic separating the two. There's a tiny LCD on the front that shows battery life, connection type (3G or 4G), the number of devices connected, and signal strength. It's a little small, but very useful; I just wish it didn't shut off automatically after only a few seconds. While using the MF61, if you just want to glance over to see how much juice remains, you can't. You first need to press the Power button to trigger the display. While this may save a few minutes of battery in the long run, I'd be willing to sacrifice them for the convenience of an always-on screen. And besides, battery life is already very good, at 5 hours and 2 minutes.

The MF61 can be charged via the included microUSB cord or wall plug and can transmit data when plugged into a computer or the wall. There's an external antenna port on the side of the device. You also get a microSD slot, which is always a welcome addition so connected devices can access content off the memory card. Problem is, the microSD slot is only accessible when the hotspot is connected to your computer via USB cable, and the data on it is not shareable over Wi-Fi. So the ZTE MF61 basically functions as a glorified microSD card reader.

Like other hotspots, the MF61 is extremely simple to set up and use. Next to the Power button, there is a WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button that will allow WPS-enabled devices to connect to the mobile wireless network quickly. But really, getting any device connected is a snap. Just turn the hotspot on, and it will automatically create a Wi-Fi network that anyone can connect to (with a password, of course, which is provided under the device's battery). In my tests, it took about 25-30 seconds for the modem to connect to the network, and it was good to go.

Once connected, you can access the MF61's Web-based interface to manage its settings. Through this interface, you can change the default encryption key as well as the name of the network. For security, the MF61 supports MAC address filtering, as well as WEP, WPA, or WPA2 encryption. You can also send and receive text messages from this interface.

Service Plans, Performance, and Conclusions
Data plan rates on T-Mobile are similar to those on other carriers that offer capped packages. You can get 200MB for $29.99 per month, or a much more reasonable 5GB for $49.99 or 10GB for $84.99. But here's where things get a little odd: instead of charging (admittedly high) overage rates if you exceed your data cap like other carriers do, T-Mobile instead allows you to continue using the device for free, albeit it at some seriously throttled speeds. Whereas your average speed may be around 3.5Mbps to 5Mbps down over a normal 4G connection, throttled speeds will bring you down to 0.1Mbps and lower. Yikes.

T-Mobile offers subscribers unlimited use of its nationwide Wi-Fi HotSpot service, which will allow you to connect to the Internet wirelessly even without the MF61. It is available at many airports, which is good news for frequent fliers, but it's probably not terribly convenient for the average user.

The MF61 performed very well in my tests, and while T-Mobile's 4G speeds aren't nearly as zippy as those on Verizon, the device managed to pull in some solid numbers. On average, the MF61 achieved about speeds of about 3.5Mbps down, and 1.5Mbps up. Peak speeds climbed all the way towards 10Mbps down in my tests. Not too shabby. These speeds held up fairly well with a bit of distance from the hotspot, but took a fairly significant dip after moving further than 50 feet away. This is typical for hotspots, and generally speaking, 50 feet or less shouldn't be difficult to maintain.

The T-Mobile 4G Mobile Hotspot ZTE MF61 is a fast, convenient way to connect multiple devices to T-Mobile's network. Its few issues aren't dealbreakers, and they are offset by good battery life, ease of use, performance, and speed. So while the MF61 is the only hotspot T-Mobile currently offers, it's still a worthy choice however you look at it.

Alex Colon is the managing editor of PCMag's consumer electronics team. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Writing and Literature from Pace University and got his start editing books before deciding technology would probably...

Automatic Renewal Program: Your subscription will continue without interruption for as long as you wish, unless
you instruct us otherwise. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of the term unless you authorize
cancellation. Each year, you'll receive a notice and you authorize that your credit/debit card will be charged the
annual subscription rate(s). You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all
unsent issues. If your credit/debit card or other billing method can not be charged, we will bill you directly instead. Contact Customer Service